The owner of a cherry-manufacturing company committed suicide in a Brooklyn factory Tuesday after he an illegal drug operation on the premises was exposed, local media reported.
Investigators looking into possible pollutants being dumped into the local water by Dell’s Maraschino Cherries company visited Arthur Monella, 57, owner of the factory, Tuesday for questioning. They were searching documents and asking questions for about five hours before investigators noticed an odd-looking shelf on the wall, according to the New York Daily News. Upon closer examination, officials discovered that the shelving system was held up with magnets and there appeared to be something behind the wall.
When asked about it, Mondella reportedly excuse himself to enter the bathroom attached to his office, locking the door behind him. He then allegedly screamed to his sister, who was standing outside the door, “Take care of my kids!” before shooting himself in the head, killing himself.
The Daily News says a source who knew Mondella said he had a license to carry a gun and often kept it holstered to one of his ankles.
Later, after obtaining a warrant to look into Monella’s secret entrance, investigators discovered three bags holding about 80 pounds of marijuana and hundreds of thousands of dollars at the factory.
Investigators also uncovered “a huge marijuana-growing operation” underneath the warehouse, a source said, according to the Daily News. Numerous high-end vehicles, including a Rolls-Royce, a Porsche and Harley-Davidson motorcycle were also discovered.
